Union - its Privileges and Purpose
A Sermon on Romans 7:4
Originally preached May 8, 1959
Scripture
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Sermon Description
Why is the doctrine of union with Christ so important? Many people consider theology to be useless and irrelevant for their everyday life. They want what is practical. In this sermon on Romans 7:4 titled “Union – Its Privileges and Purpose,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on the great theological doctrine of union with Christ and its everyday importance. He says the Christian has hope anew each and every day because they have died to themselves and now live in Christ. The doctrine of union with Christ teaches that they are no longer slaves to themselves, but are now slaves to Christ. They are inheritors of all the promises because they are one in Christ Jesus. This is the pure and unmatched hope of the gospel: God in Jesus Christ for His people. What of those that do not know Jesus? It is only in Christ that anyone can have true hope and all those that reject His gospel reject the only way of salvation. This is why the church must preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The church is not only the bride of Christ, but also the ambassador of Christ in the world. This sermon asks all if they have this hope. Are they now one with Christ?
Sermon Breakdown
- We are considering Romans 7:4, a crucial verse summarizing the Christian faith.
- The Christian life is an entirely new life, a complete change of relationship and motive, enabled by a new strength.
- Certain things had to happen to Jesus - come in a body, die, rise again - for Christianity and Christian blessing to exist.
- Certain things must happen to us - be united to Christ, die to the law, be married to Christ.
- We are married to the risen Christ. We will look at the consequences and privileges of this union.
- The nature of the union: we are one flesh with Christ, members of his body. An indissoluble union.
- Privilege: His name becomes our name - the name above every name. The highest title and dignity.
- Privilege: We have his standing - wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. We stand in God's presence clothed in Christ's righteousness.
- Privilege: We share his privileges - seated in the heavenly places; access to the Father; service of angels; will reign with him.
- Privilege: We know his love in a unique way. The love of Jesus, what it is, none but his loved ones know.
- Privilege: His care and protection. He provides all we need; commands angels to guard us; is able to keep us from falling.
- Privilege: His desire and purpose for us - to present us faultless before God's glory with exceeding joy.
- The purpose of the union: to bear fruit to God. The fruit is holiness and the fruit of the Spirit.
- We were married to the law but it was impotent to produce fruit. We are now married to Christ who has the power to produce fruit even in us.
- The central object of salvation is holiness. We cannot stop at justification. From the moment of union, the process of sanctification begins.
Sermon Q&A
What Does It Mean to Be Married to Christ According to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the main point of Romans 7:4 according to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Romans 7:4 is one of the crucial verses in which Paul summarizes the Christian faith. The verse explains that Christians have died to the law through the body of Christ, in order to be "married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." This verse describes Christianity as an entirely new life with a new relationship, new motive, and new strength. It also explains how we enter into this life and what makes it possible to enjoy it.
What privileges do believers have through being "married to Christ"?
According to Lloyd-Jones, believers who are married to Christ enjoy several privileges: 1. His name becomes our name - we are called Christians 2. His standing becomes our standing - "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30) 3. We share in his privileges - seated with him in heavenly places 4. We have access to his Father - accepted in the Beloved 5. We receive the service of angels - "ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:13-14) 6. We will reign with him and judge the world and angels 7. We inherit all his possessions - "all things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) 8. We experience his personal love - "The love of Jesus, what it is, none but his loved ones know" 9. We receive his care and protection - he "nourisheth and cherisheth" the church
What is the purpose of being married to Christ according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the purpose of being married to Christ is not primarily for our benefit but for bringing forth fruit unto God. The purpose is not merely forgiveness, security, happiness, help, healing, experiences, or victory over sin. Rather, it is sanctification - that we might become holy and without blemish. As he states: "The central object of salvation is holiness." Through this union with Christ, believers are enabled to bear "the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith and temperance."
Why does Lloyd-Jones say we need to be married to Christ rather than the law?
According to Lloyd-Jones, we needed to be delivered from our "marriage to the law" because the law was impotent - it couldn't produce fruit in us. He explains: "The law was impotent. It couldn't bring forth children out of us." We needed to be united with Christ who has "the strength and the virility and the potency to produce children even out of us." Only through Christ's power working in us can we fulfill the righteousness of the law. As he puts it: "We need one whose seed is so powerful, who can so impregnate us with his own holy nature, that he'll produce holiness even in us."
How does Lloyd-Jones describe the Christian's relationship with Christ?
Lloyd-Jones describes the Christian's relationship with Christ as an indissoluble union where "we are made one flesh with him." He emphasizes that this is not merely an experiential reality but a legal transaction that has been divinely secured. He says Christians should realize the dignity of this relationship and "walk through the world as ever remembering it." The relationship includes intimate communion where Christ manifests himself and his love to believers in ways the world cannot understand. Lloyd-Jones urges believers to give Christ opportunities to speak to them and to look into his face rather than being preoccupied with other things.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.